LEED Certification in Building Energy Efficiency: A Review of Its Performance Efficacy and Global Applicability

Laura Michelle Leite Ribeiro, Taylana Piccinini Scolaro () and Enedir Ghisi
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Laura Michelle Leite Ribeiro: Research Group on Management of Sustainable Environments, Laboratory of Energy Efficiency in Buildings, Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil
Taylana Piccinini Scolaro: Research Group on Management of Sustainable Environments, Laboratory of Energy Efficiency in Buildings, Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil
Enedir Ghisi: Research Group on Management of Sustainable Environments, Laboratory of Energy Efficiency in Buildings, Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis 88040-900, SC, Brazil

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-17

Abstract: This review aimed to critically assess the effectiveness of LEED certification in enhancing the energy performance of buildings. This study discusses the background to the creation of LEED, the LEED energy performance assessment, the consumption of certified buildings compared to non-certified buildings, the consumption predicted by simulations versus actual consumption, and the influence of considering thermal insulation in the envelope on the effectiveness of the certification. The review highlights that LEED was developed in the United States and bases its energy performance assessment on ASHRAE 90.1. Findings highlight significant energy performance variability among LEED-certified buildings due to factors like geographic location, building type, and discrepancies between predicted and actual energy consumption, often influenced by occupancy patterns and user behaviour. While higher certification levels generally correlate with better energy performance, lower levels frequently underperform. Additionally, in hot climates, thermal insulation strategies following ASHRAE guidelines may inadvertently increase cooling demands in buildings with high internal loads, hindering heat dissipation. In conclusion, although LEED represents a significant milestone in advancing sustainable construction practices, its energy performance framework requires refinement to better account for diverse climatic and cultural contexts, thereby optimising its contribution to energy efficiency.

Keywords: LEED certification; energy efficiency; thermal insulation; sustainable construction; computer simulation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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